[2009.10.12] Monday Night Recap

[7 min read]

  • [The Office] HILARIOUS!  The 1-hour wedding episode this past Thursday was absolutely hilarious.  The JK Wedding Dance topped it all off at the end too!  I’m very impressed with the consistency of the show, as well as how they stay current with what’s going on.
  • [Fall TV] My current line-up right now (that I catch up on Hulu) is Modern Family, Glee, and The Office.  If I’ve got some free time, that I’m working in Lie To Me and Community, but I’m not currently sold on those two yet.  The wife has a whole different line-up: Private Practice, Grey’s Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters, and Desperate Housewives.  Lucky for me, She also enjoys Modern Family and The Office, so we at least get 2 shows that we watch together.  :)  If you could pare down this list, though, what shows would you cut out?  Or what shows are we missing out on?
  • [My Best Friend’s Wedding] Well, it was more my wife’s best friend, but this past weekend we celebrated the wedding of our close college friends, Ekta and Digesh, at the Waterfold in Elmhurst, IL.  My wife and I were the first two in our group of friends to get married 2 months ago (wow, it’s been 2 months already?!), and these two were the 2nd.  Come next year, we’ll have another 2 couples joining us as well!  Goodness we’re getting old.  But I digress.
    I got to attend this wedding as a guest, which was great because I was able to really get to learn and understand many of the details of the Hindu wedding ceremony from a different view.  It’s so fascinating to see all the different rituals and traditions that take part in it – one reason why I love cultural ceremonies!  My wife was there from the beginning with the ‘mehndi‘ on Thursday night, then I got to attend the ‘garba‘ on Friday followed by the full day of the ceremony and reception on Saturday.  I started Saturday at the ‘jaan’ on the groom’s side, where he is brought in by horse to the hall.  The whole time the ‘dhol‘ players keep rhythm while everyone is dancing away- such a celebration!  When they reach the hall, the bride’s elders are there to receive him.  Again, its an amazing wedding where the entire community takes part.  Here are a few pics taken with my trusty G10 during the ‘jaan’ and a look at the ‘mandap‘ from the ceremony (in need of a mandap?  let me know, my friend’s the guy who put this one together).  I’m definitely looking forward to actually having the honor to shoot more of these traditional ceremonies in the near future :)

    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois
    chicago wedding photographer. dig and ekta's jaan and wedding at the waterford in Elmhurst, illinois

  • [Fantasy Football] We’re finishing up week 5 in my FF league, and I’m currently in third overall (though that will drop barring an amazing performance by Ronnie Brown on MNF…im losing by 40 points).  Like last year, before each week I post my predictions for who will win each matchup.  Going into this weekend’s games, I was an amazing 14-4 on my picks, but this week I might be 1-5 to bring things closer to even.  I had a rough week with a bunch of studs on a bye, but I’m fine with getting the L out of the way now and finishing strong moving forward.
  • [iamsecond] I stumbled upon this site over a year ago, and it was such an inspiration.  From a creative standpoint, the entire concept and cinematography grabbed me and pulled me in.  Even deeper though, the stories and testimonies of all these people ring as a constant reminder to me.  It’s good for me to go back there every now and then and just get reminded of what my purpose is and where my strength came from, and what my position truly is.  I was listening to Pete Briscoe‘s story and one line he said that jumped at me was “it’s exhausting having to succeed.”  His focus and drive was simply to succeed and be the best, and wore himself out.  How many of us have that drive to be the “best”…but for what?  I need to daily remind myself that my desires need to be driven by purpose, and constantly accept and cling to my role as “second”.
  • [The Blender] For those who followed me for awhile, you probably remember I was doing a little video blogging earlier in the year, and it sort of went on hold for a bit as the madness of my own wedding started to take over and such.  But I’m still planning on putting more out there every now and then.  If you guys have any topics you want my view point on (photography, sports, life, religion, marriage, etc.) let me know!  I’d love to put out info that you people actually care about :)